A Brief History of Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans are a favourite among men and women alike and have become a must have in most people's wardrobes. Although it seems like this is a modern trend, the skinny jean actually started life in the 1950's. Drainpipe and tapered jeans and trousers were popular among stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Sandra Dee and Audrey Hepburn. Elvis Presley incorporated them into the 'bad boy' image by wearing with a white t-shirt and leather jacket which has remained a staple uniform for the rock n roll scene. 

Mods and rockers in the 1960's both wore skinny trousers and bands such as The Beatles made them even more popular among people in the mainstream. The skinny jean took a backseat in the 1970's when the flared and bell bottom jeans were in. However, they remained extremely popular in the punk subculture and a classic example of this is the band The Ramones. Thy wore a similar style as the 50's and 60's rockers and this is still an iconic look. Drainpipes adorned with zips, studs and rips were favoured in the punk community as a rebellious look to the popular flares in fashion in the 70's.

Vivienne Westwood created skinny bondage trousers in the 1970's which were new twist on the plain jeans. The trousers came in different colours of tartan and pinstripe and the legs were attached with straps made from the same material. The skinny bottoms of the trousers and jeans allowed a better overall look when wearing Converse or Doc Marten boots.

Skinny jeans stayed in alternative fashion through the 1980's and became popular with women who liked how tight fitting they were. Acid wash in the 80's allowed for a wider variety of styles and different groups wore them slightly different. Heavy metal fans wore them with vintage t-shirts and leather jackets where as glam rock fans would wear them with flamboyant blouses and jackets with plenty of accessories.

Skinny jeans are easy to dress up or down and can be incorporated into almost any vintage era you are interested in. For a feminine take on the rock n roll 50's look wear black high waisted jeans with a checked shirt tucked in and cute pumps. A polo shirt and blue skinny jeans looks great for a mod or skinhead look and you can build on this to suit your style. Acid wash and pale blue vintage jeans will look great with any 80's band t-shirt for a casual look.

Becky Taylor is a writer and PR and marketing manager for Brag Vintage, an online vintage and retro clothing store based in the UK. Brag stock a multitude of unique vintage items for both men and women. Please check out their website or blog for more information.